Companies of all shapes and sizes joined us for a breakfast seminar on apprenticeships last week. With the Apprenticeship Levy on the horizon, and the potential for a huge increase in work-based learning opportunities, we thought it was a great time to speak to companies about the world of apprenticeships and their own talent strategy.

Sixteen organisations joined us at the offices of our good friends, Squire Patton Boggs on Thursday. One of the law firm’s Senior Partners, Caroline Noblet, spoke about their experience of working with us and explained more about their legal trailblazer apprenticeship. She said:

“We have found working with Drive Forward to be both a learning and inspirational experience. We see the apprenticeship levy as a real opportunity for UK employers to have care leaver apprenticeships, particularly given the recent economic concessions made by the government to support that aim. We wanted to make sure that messaging was communicated to other companies.”.

The founders of Pod Talent Recruitment joined us to share valuable insights on the benefits of recruiting people from a diverse range of backgrounds. Did you know that building a more diverse workforce can increase productivity, boost employee motivation and commitment, and drive social and economic change?

The young care leavers we work with often face barriers to apprenticeships and this hampers their development into active and productive members of society. We were pleased to introduce our guests to Fatima, one of the young people we have supported; she spoke so passionately about her journey with Drive Forward, and explained just how vital her apprenticeship is proving to be in helping her to achieve her career goals.

After the event, Ruby Lawrence, Head of Corporate Engagement for Drive Forward said: ‘It was a fantastic and insightful seminar with a great mix of professionals which has opened up some very exciting conversations about apprenticeship strategy and care-leavers’

If you would like to find out more about partnering with us to provide apprenticeships for care leavers, please contact Ruby Lawrence for an informal chat.

DRIVE FORWARD

We’re here to make a difference in the lives of young care leavers. Wherever they’re coming from, we’re on a mission to help open doors and give them the skills, confidence and inspiration to make some momentum and realise their full potential.